Minnow ID

[JBMasterAngler]

I'm thinking it's a young rainbow darter. Those things look like they should be swimming around on a coral reef in the florida keys, but nope, they call minnesota waters home

[mn_bowhunter]

I'm gonna guess it's an Iowa darter, not a rainbow. I'd have to get out the book to be sure. It also appears to be a mature fish.

[Jarnotski]

Iowa's are definately colorful, but the markings are not consistant with an Iowa, nor is the mouth. The mouth has really got me puzzled. As for the other fish caught in the bait bucket. It's definately a gar, judging by the snout i'd say a shortnose gar.

[mn_bowhunter]

Originally Posted By: Lowblazah

looks like a baby bluegill to me.

Keep in mind I got some really small ones out of a pike this winter, and found this one after ice out. Wouldn't a blue gill from the spring year class be bigger than that?

Could be a pygmy sunfish. They are usually found in warmer waters, but there are some from wisconsin in our ichtheology collection.

I'm still sticking with the iowa darter on the colorful one. The mouth is slightly subterminal like it is supposed to be. One important thing to know is if there were two dorsal fins? The first one should be spiny and the second soft. The pectoral fins are lateral and pelvic fins are thoracic like a member of the darter family.